1. Introduction | PSLE English Situational Writing (Article)

 

You may have heard about the new changes to the PSLE Situational Writing section introduced in the PSLE 2025 English syllabus update by MOE. The Situational Writing section is one that can help students secure full marks if approached correctly. Yet, many feel apprehensive, particularly with the introduction of a new text type: Article Writing. The updated requirements and format can also be confusing for students. In this post, we will guide you through what your child needs to know to tackle this section with ease.

 

 

2. Sample Question | PSLE English Situational Writing (Article)

 

For a clearer picture, we will be referring to a sample question taken from the 2025 SEAB Specimen Paper. This example illustrates what students can expect and how they should respond.

 

Visual Stimulus

1st Frame

Aunt May: Are you sure you want to do this, Susan? Papaya plants take about six to ten months to mature before they bear fruit.

Susan: Yes, Aunt May! I’m curious to see how a papaya plant grows. I’m thinking of planting the seeds in a large pot in my flat.

2nd Frame

Aunt May: A pot will be too small! Papaya plants need lots of sun and space to grow healthily. Why don’t you plant them in my garden instead?

3rd Frame

Susan: I need to find a way to make sure I remember to water the plant every day!

4th Frame

Susan: Here’s some fertiliser to help you grow tall and strong!

5th Frame

Susan: Hurray! Fruits, finally, after seven months! While waiting for them to ripen, I’ll wrap them in plastic bags to prevent bats from getting to them!

Task

Imagine you are Susan. Write an article for your school’s science magazine to share your experience growing your own papaya plant.

In your writing, include the following key information:

• why you wanted to grow a papaya plant (1)
• how you decided on where to plant the seeds (2)
• how you made sure you remembered to water the plant daily (3)
• other than watering the plant, give two ways how you cared for it (4, 5)
• how long it took for your papaya plant to bear fruit (6)

The model response in the next section shows us how the task can be approached. The numbers in brackets indicate the key information that can be extracted from the visual stimulus, with the exception of the underlined point, which requires students to give their own information.

 

 

3. Model Response | PSLE English Situational Writing (Article)

 

This sample is adapted from YPS P6 Parents Engagement Slides.

Dear Students, (Salutation)

I am Susan Lee of Primary 6 Care (Introduce yourself) and I am excited to share with you my experience growing my own papaya plant. (Purpose)

I was curious to see how a papaya plant grows so I wanted to grow one. (1) At first, I wanted to plant the seeds in a large pot in my flat, but my aunt suggested that I plant them in her garden instead. She explained that a pot would be too small because papaya plants need lots of sun and space to grow healthily. (2) To ensure that I remembered to water the plant daily, I keyed in a reminder in my phone. (3) Besides watering the plant, I gave it fertiliser to help it grow tall and strong. (4) When the papaya plant finally bore fruit after seven months, (6) I wrapped its fruits up in plastic bags to prevent bats from getting to them. (5)

I hope this article has piqued your interest and motivated you to do something similar! (Conclusion)

Note: The sign-off has been omitted in this piece of writing because the writer has already introduced herself in the first paragraph. It is sufficient as long as the name appears in the article.

 

 

4. Formats of Article Writing | PSLE English Situational Writing (Article)

 

When it comes to writing an article for PSLE Situational Writing, there isn’t only one fixed format. Different schools may teach slightly different approaches, such as whether to include a title and byline, or what kind of closing is expected. Students are encouraged to follow the method their school teachers have taught them. The most important thing is that the article is clear, well-structured, written with the correct purpose, audience and context (PAC) in mind, while still fulfilling the task requirements.

Based on what our students have shared, we’ve compiled examples of the various formats that different schools use when teaching article writing.

Format 1

Dear Students, (Salutation)

xxx

Written by:
Susan Lee (Sign-off)

Note: The sign-off may be omitted if you have already introduced yourself in the writing. (refer to the model response in the previous section)

Format 2

Dear Classmates, (Salutation)

xxx

Cheers,
Susan (Sign-off)

Note: Some of our students have shared that their school teachers advise them to use sign-offs such as ‘Yours sincerely’ or ‘Yours faithfully’ for formal pieces, and lighter phrases like ‘Cheers’ when the tone is more informal.

Format 3

How I Grew My Papaya Plant (Title)

xxx

Written by:
Susan Lee (Sign-off)

Format 4

How I Grew My Papaya Plant (Title)
By Susan Lee (Byline)

xxx

Note: The sign-off isn’t included here, as the writer’s name is already mentioned in the byline.

 

 

5. Conclusion | PSLE English Situational Writing (Article)

 

Article writing may be a new addition to PSLE Situational Writing, but with the right understanding of the requirements and consistent practice, it doesn’t have to be intimidating. For students who’d like more support, our weekly lessons cover Situational Writing in detail, while our ad-hoc classes provide extra help for Paper 2 components and Oral. All our teachers are MOE-trained, so your child will be learning from experienced educators who understand the syllabus inside out. With steady guidance and the right strategies, your child can approach the PSLE English paper with confidence!